Woonsocket Radio News Room

Amo Secures Wins for Rhode Island in Water Resources Development Act

Congressman Amo’s amendments advance critical infrastructure priorities in the First Congressional District

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, essential legislation that advances his priorities to strengthen flood protection, bolster resiliency, and invest in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. The two-year reauthorization continues the long-standing bipartisan tradition of responding to local needs by dedicating over $3 billion for new infrastructure as it authorizes 124 new feasibility studies for future water resource development projects. The legislation also encourages public-private partnerships, invests in harbor, inland waterway, and port projects, and helps local communities to partner with the Army Corps of Engineers for smaller-scale water projects.

 

“As coastal communities face the existential threats of the climate crisis, Congress must authorize the federal resources necessary to reduce flood and storm damage, restore vital aquatic ecosystems, and improve resilience,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “In Rhode Island’s First District, the Army Corps of Engineers plays a critical role, operating critical infrastructure like Fox Point hurricane barrier. I am proud that with this legislation, we invest and support their vital work. Now our focus must turn toward implementing its provisions, and I am committed to working with state and local partners to make sure that it continues to deliver for the residents who call Rhode Island home.”

 

In addition, as the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure considered the bill, Congressman Amo sent a letter urging his colleagues to consider several measures that would help strengthen Rhode Island’s water resource infrastructure.

 

Following Congressman Amo’s letter to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the following priorities were included: 

• Authorization of “Rhode Island Coastline, Coastal Storm Risk Management” Project
• Reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program
• Increases the federal limit and authorizations for Continuing Authorities Programs (CAP)
• Improves the connectivity between federal and state initiatives and planning

 

BACKGROUND

Authorization of “Rhode Island Coastline, Coastal Storm Risk Management” Project

The Rhode Island Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) study was conducted due to frequent flooding from high tides, spring tides, and coastal storms in the study area. The study’s purpose is to identify a plan to reduce the risk of coastal storm damage along a large portion of the Rhode Island coastline while contributing to the resilience of communities, important infrastructure, and the natural environment. The study area includes significant critical infrastructure at risk of damage from future flooding and coastal storms including police, fire, and emergency support service facilities; schools; energy production facilities; water and wastewater facilities; nursing homes and assisted living facilities in addition to communities and businesses. These areas that experience frequent flooding are considered at high risk of coastal storm flooding with an associated threat to life safety; and are susceptible to relative sea level change.

 

In collaboration with U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner, Congressman Gabe Amo sent a letter to President Biden urging the White House to declare a disaster declaration under the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act for the state to access Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to assist with responding to and recovering from the flooding caused by heavy rain and snow melt in January 2024. The authorization of this project would ensure Rhode Island and other coastal states can identify a plan to reduce flood risks. 

 

Reauthorization of the National Dam Safety Program 

Dams play a vital role in Rhode Island’s infrastructure and contribute to the economic development of our nation. This vital program is an essential partnership between states, federal agencies and other stakeholders to encourage and promote the establishment and maintenance of effective federal and state dam safety programs that reduce risk to human life, property, and the environment from dam related hazards. Unfortunately, formal authorization for the National Dam Safety Program lapsed on September 30, 2023. I hope this program will be reauthorized to ensure states like Rhode Island have the resources and support needed to monitor dams in our communities and reduce the risks associated with dam failure

 

Increase Federal Limit and Authorizations for Continuing Authorities Programs (CAP) 

The last time Congress increased the per-project federal expenditure limit for the CAP was 2014. Construction costs have drastically increased in the last decade. Increasing the federal limit and authorization for the CAP to account for the per project adjustments would better allow the Corps to meet its mission.

 

Improved Connectivity Between Federal and State Initiatives and Planning 

Rhode Island has been a leader in developing a state-approved coastal management plan. By improving the connection between federal and state partners for state-approved projects, strategies, and plans, the Corps could expedite the uptake of projects. Requiring GAO to detail how the Corps currently operates in conjunction with state-approved management plans would better inform how to improve this process.

 

Congressman Amo in collaboration with the Rhode Island delegation helped to deliver a $450 million Climate Pollution Reduction grant to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. This will help accelerate the adoption of cold-climate air-source heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and ground source heat pumps. The project will support coalition partners throughout New England states in providing resources for more than 500,000 single-family and multifamily residential buildings.

 

READ THE FULL TEXT OF CONGRESSMAN AMO’S LETTER TO THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE HERE

Chairs Sam Graves and David Rouzer and Ranking Member’s Rick Larsen and Grace Napolitano, I thank the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the opportunity to submit testimony in support of the below priorities of Rhode Island’s First Congressional District for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024.

 

Each WRDA is important to ensuring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) fulfills its mission. If drafted with the below priorities, this upcoming WRDA would help strengthen water resource infrastructure in Rhode Island and across our nation by energizing our economy, supporting resiliency projects and initiatives, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our environment and modernizing our water infrastructure.

 

Given the increased threat that the climate crisis poses, the mission of the Corps is more important than ever to protect our coastal communities. There remains an increased risk of extreme weather events such as floods, hurricanes, and storms that continue to threaten our economy and the lives of Rhode Islanders.

 

According to the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the United States experienced direct losses from 18 separate billion-dollar disasters total[ing] over $170 billion in 2022.1 This worrying trend grew in 2023 to 25 confirmed weather/climate disaster events with losses exceeding $1 billion each to affect the United States.

 

Coastal communities like those in Rhode Island are facing unprecedented risk from these threats, which is why the Corps work to reduce flood and storm damage, restore vital aquatic ecosystems, and improve our resilience is vital.

 

I look forward to working with the Committee on the WRDA of 2024. Below are specific requests that I submitted to the Committee for consideration.